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APPENDIX B: STATE LEGISLATURES IN OUR SAMPLE

Overview
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Background Information for the Legislatures Under Comparison

Massachusetts General Court, Full-Time “Lite” Legislature137

  • It is a bicameral body composed of 40 Senate and 160 House of Representatives (House) seats.
  • This Legislature is a full-time legislature, which means that it operates during the full calendar year. However, it operates on a reduced schedule in comparison to larger comparable full-time states, making it a full-time “lite” legislature.
  • The regular session convenes on the first Wednesday of January. The session does not dissolve until a new regular session convenes in the next year. Article X of the Massachusetts Constitution specifies that it does not prevent the General Court from meeting at any time it judges necessary.

Kentucky General Assembly, Hybrid Legislature

  • It is a bicameral body composed of 38 Senate and 100 House seats.
  • This Legislature operates as a hybrid legislature, which means that it has restrictions on the length and number of meetings in a standard session, but has the ability to have special sessions called for additional business. In even-numbered years, sessions may not last more than 60 legislative days and cannot extend beyond April 15. In odd-numbered years, sessions may not last more than 30 legislative days and cannot extend beyond March 30. Special sessions may be called by the Governor at any time and for any duration.
  • Committees and Task Forces may operate outside of the following standard session restrictions:
  • Senate and House Standing Committees meet only when the General Assembly is in session.
  • Interim Joint Committees are separate standing committees which meet when the General Assembly is not in session.
  • Special Committees or Task Forces are authorized on temporary bases to study specific topics.
  • Statutory Committees are created by law to perform specific tasks related to oversight of the executive branch.

Virginia General Assembly, Hybrid Legislature

  • It is a bicameral body composed of 40 Senate and 100 House of Delegates seats.
  • This Legislature operates as a hybrid legislature that has set regular sessions and allows for special sessions to be called by the Governor. The General Assembly convenes each year on the second Wednesday of January. In even-numbered years, the session is held for 60 days. In odd-numbered years, the session is held for 30 days, although this has been frequently extended to 45 days. The General Assembly reconvenes on the sixth Wednesday after adjournment of the regular session to consider the Governor’s recommendation and vetoed legislation. Bills that become law from the regular session are effective the first day of July following adjournment of that session unless otherwise specified.

Pennsylvania General Assembly, Full-Time (with large staff)

  • It is a bicameral body composed of 50 Senate and 203 House seats.
  • This Legislature operates as a full-time legislature that meets during the full calendar year. The body convenes at 12:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday of January and meets regularly throughout the year. Both chambers adjourn on November 30 in even-numbered years, as this is when the terms expire for all House members and half of all Senate members.
  • Both chambers are beholden to the other regarding adjournment; neither can adjourn for more than three days without the consent of the other.
  • The Governor may call a special session in order to press for legislation on important issues, though this has only occurred infrequently (as of 2017, this has only happened 35 times in the history of Pennsylvania).

Connecticut General Assembly, Hybrid Legislature

  • It is a bicameral body composed of 36 Senate and 151 House seats.
  • This Legislature operates as a hybrid legislature that has variable session types throughout a calendar year. In even-numbered years, the General Assembly is in session from February to May. In odd-numbered years, the budget is completed, and the session lasts from January to June.
  • The Governor may call for a special session after the end of the regular session. Additionally, the General Assembly may call for a veto session to override gubernatorial votes.

Oregon Legislative Assembly, Hybrid Legislature

  • It is a bicameral body composed of 30 Senate and 60 House seats.
  • This Legislature operates as a hybrid legislature that originally had biannual sessions, and, as of 2011, is now an annual-session format. In odd-numbered years, sessions have 160 calendar days, and in even-numbered years, there are 35 calendar days for the regular session.
  • The Governor and Legislature can call the body into special session but are only permissible in an emergency situation. Additional work can be done during Interim sessions where special study groups are established to investigate issues to be addressed in the next legislative session.

137.     This definition of a full-time “lite” legislature is according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, http://www.ncsl.org/research/about-state-legislatures/full-and-part-time-legislatures.aspx (last accessed September 30, 2024).

Date published: October 21, 2024

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